Brewers rally in ninth, spoil Red Sox home opener

Saturday

Apr 5, 2014 at 2:00 AM

BOSTON — The Red Sox were set up for a storybook ending.

Eric Avidon

BOSTON — The Red Sox were set up for a storybook ending.

They were tied with the Brewers in the bottom of the eighth, playing their home opener after they'd received their World Series rings, unveiled their championship banner, and paid homage to both the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and the firefighters from Local 33 Ladder 15 who'd just lost two of their own.

David Ortiz was on first base with one out, and Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes, two among the many who played huge roles in last year's turnaround season, were due up next.

But instead of coming up with a perfect finish, the Red Sox fell apart.

Napoli grounded into an inning-ending double play. Newcomer Edward Mujica was then brought on to make his Fenway debut as a member of the Red Sox and gave up four runs, turning a 2-2 tie into a 6-2 loss.

"It's tough (to lose the home opener)," said Xander Bogaerts. "We hit some good balls but they were right at people or they ran and caught it. ... We'll get them back tomorrow."

The Brewers instantaneously blasted Mujica (0-1), who used to pitch against Milwaukee regularly when he was a member of the Cardinals.

Khris Davis lined his first pitch down the left-field line for a double. Scooter Gennett then tried to sacrifice, but Mujica chose to try and cut down Davis at third base but Davis eluded the tag of Will Middlebrooks.

Lyle Overbay then doubled to right field, driving in both Davis and Gennett for a 4-2 Milwaukee lead. Carlos Gomez followed with a single to right to bring in Overbay. A fielder's choice off the bat of Jean Segura resulted in the first out of the inning, and then Ryan Braun flew out for the second out — he was 0-for-5 and is hitting .063 sans performance enhancing drugs — but then Aramis Ramirez singled to drive in Segura for a 6-2 Brewers lead.

Mujica was lifted at that point, but the damage was done.

There was then no magical comeback in the bottom of the ninth, with Francisco Rodriguez retiring Gomes, Grady Sizemore, and Bogaerts.

"They just swung at everything (against Mujica)," said catcher A.J. Pierzynski. "They knew he was going to throw strikes. They swung at everything. He was a little bit up."

"They came out swinging against Mujica," echoed manager John Farrell. "Knowing that he's been in the National League Central they're familiar with him, and at the same time Edward's had a lot of success against that lineup. He mis-located a couple of balls, and unfortunately today paid for it."

Mujica did not speak after the game.

And even though it was Mujica who got hit hard in the ninth, the Red Sox had opportunities earlier in the game to score more than the two runs they did.

Down 2-0 after the Brewers scored twice in the top of the second, Sizemore singled to right field with one out in the bottom of the inning, and when Logan Schafer threw wide of third base trying to cut down Napoli, who had led off with a walk, Napoli scored and Sizemore took second. He then stole third, but when Bogaerts lifted a fly ball to shallow right field Sizemore decided to test Schafer's arm and paid the price.

Four innings later, Pedroia led off with a single, but with Ortiz at the plate he tried to steal second and was thrown out by catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

And on top of running into outs to end potential rallies, the Red Sox were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, with five of those outs coming against Milwaukee starter Marco Estrada.

"We were ready to play today, (but) their starter kept us off balance, especially in big situations with guys in scoring position," said Middlebrooks. "He had a good changeup, got a few guys out front, so we'll get them tomorrow."

Will Smith and Brandon Kintzler (1-0) bridged the gap to K-Rod.

Jake Peavy started for the Red Sox, and delivered a strong performance that was ultimately forgotten after Mujica's meltdown.

After he struck out three batters in the first inning, he got hit hard in the second, allowing a lead-off home run to Lucroy, then another run when Gomez singled home Davis, who had doubled.

But then he kept the Brewers off the scoreboard, allowing the Red Sox to eventually tie the score in the third when Middlebrooks homered. He went six innings, allowing the two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two.

Burke Badenhop followed with two scoreless innings before Mujica entered.

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